Abstract
Unlike terrestrial Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), communication between buried nodes in WUSNs happens through the ground. Due to the complexity of soil, accurate estimation of the underground signal attenuation is challenging. Existing path loss models mainly rely on semi-empirical and empirical mixing models for calculating the dielectric properties of the soil. In this paper, two existing models for estimating the path loss in soil (i.e., the CRIM-Fresnel and Modified-Friis models) are compared with measurements obtained at three locations. In addition, an improved method is proposed for estimating the path loss based on a new approach for calculating the dielectric properties of soil from Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) measurements. The proposed approach calculates the complex permittivity values from TDR waveform based on a new modified method and subsequently use them as inputs into the Modified-Friis model. The results from the field trials were compared with the proposed method and the existing models. The results of this comparison showed that the proposed estimation technique provides a better estimation of Radio Frequency (RF) attenuation than the existing models. It also eliminates the need to take samples back to the laboratory by providing in situ calculation of attenuation based on TDR.
Highlights
The design of the topology and deployment density of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are highly affected by the signal path loss estimation for each system in its intended environment
Signal transmission in a Wireless Underground Sensor Networks (WUSNs) can be divided into three main categories of Underground to Underground (UG2UG) and Underground to Aboveground (UG2AG and AG2UG)
The Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) extracted permittivity values are applied to the Modified-Friis model to give an approach that does not require laboratory analysis of the soil at the location of the WUSN. This alternative approach is compared to the existing approaches and the Radio Frequency (RF) attenuation measurements obtained from field trials
Summary
The design of the topology and deployment density of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are highly affected by the signal path loss estimation for each system in its intended environment. H exists [6,7,8] on the path loss models for terrestrial WSN in various applications, the complex. The TDR extracted permittivity values are applied to the Modified-Friis model to give an approach that does not require laboratory analysis of the soil at the location of the WUSN. This alternative approach is compared to the existing approaches and the RF attenuation measurements obtained from field trials
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